Proposals for redeveloping the long vacant Kingbridge Armory are due today. (Photo by J. Evelly)

Today’s the big day–the deadline for interested developers who want to set up shop at the Kingsbridge Armory to submit their applications to the city. A spokesman for the Economic Development Corporation, charged with sorting through the proposals, said they were due in at 4 p.m. today.

But what do Bronxites want to see at the Armory? To find out, we dispatched our team of student reporters (right) from the Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative, the free after-school journalism program run by the Norwood News. They hit the streets around Kingsbridge Road, armed with a notebook and pen, to ask the question: what you like to see at the Kingsbridge Armory?

The overwhelming response from those asked matches well with several ideas that have already been proposed for the space. Nearly everyone said they’d like to see the building used for some kind of community benefit, either in the form of a school, recreational programs for kids and the elderly, or a sports complex.

“My choice would be afterschool programs, especially for the elderly,” said Joe Laubriel “Maybe we could turn it into a museum. That would be good for tourism.”

Other ideas suggested along that line include turning it into a skate park, an indoor soccer field, a public gym or athletic center. A handful of interviewees said the same thing: kids in the Bronx have no where to go to spend time, and they’re bored.

“Anything for the community,” said Edrina Gilchrist. “Something for the kids to do-–trips, sports.”

Dougie Sells, from Soudview, said he thought it should be made into an recreational center, but one with affordable programs—nothing should cost more than $5, he suggests.

“We’ve got these kids running around with nothing to do,” he said.

Ron Hayes, a building manager from Kingsbridge, went a different route. He said he’d like to see the building knocked down, to put up affordable housing developments in its place.

“It takes up a lot of space,” he said.

Several people also said they’d like to see the Armory turned into a shopping mall, which was the plan proposed for the space back in 2008, before community activists, leaders, and the City Council rejected it because the developer refused to pay workers there a living wage.

This was a great way to judge the true interest of the community. Our sports arena, will offer cycling, rock climbing, basketball, soccer, baseball, a public jogging track, community gym and more. I hope the residents of the Norwood community will verbalize their support of the Armory Sports and Entertainment plan.